Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-08-31
The Administration Polio,

We hear very much now, as we never
have till recently, of the administration
policy on the tariff question. The de-
scription stands for fact The Phila-
delphia Press says the administration has
and must have. policy on this subject.
1t might dodge it, as it did for a time
while no supreme necessity forced it to an
issue. But with a surplus of one hundred
millions, with the dangers of such an &C
emulation, with the opportunity of re-
hitting hundred millions wear, to the
people, no administration can any longer
dodge a distinct revenue policy. The
president must present some plan for re
ducing the surplus. If he fails to face
this problem be will confess his own i'm
bcciity II, as a candidate for reelection,
lie is To make the slightest pretensious to
craftsmanship OF even to common admin
istrative capacity, he must deal decisively
with this exigent question.
How. then. can he reduce the surplus?
By cutting off the tobacco and whisky
taxes? But the democratic majority in
congress Is unalterably opposed to that-at
least to any disturbance of the whisky tax,
By striking off the duty on sugar? But the
democratic majority Is equally hostile to
that 4 democratic president, if he is to
accomplish any legislation, must stand
IN harmony with a democratic congress.
The only thing that remains is general
assault on the tariff, and it is well under
stood that President Cleveland will JOIN
Speaker Carlisle in such an attack. This
Is what is meant by the administration
policy. Even if the president were reluc
tant the whole logic of his relations cOm~
pels it. But he is not reluctant. He is
personally in sympathy with the free
traders, and when MIR Manning retired
the last barrier to the adoption of an az
gressive free trade policy disappeared
from the administration Mr.. Manulng's
state papers were, indeed, as strongly for
free trade as any that ever came from the
treasury, but they were written for him
by other hands Personally he was for
protection. and when he stepped down
and out it left all the presidents advisers
in full sympathy with free trade Thus
by all its prepossessions the sdministra-
ton Is opposed to the present protective
system, and by the necessity of reducing
the surplus 1t is compelled to attack the
tariff because 1t rejects every other
method.
Nor can the president content himself
with a mere passive announcement OF
this policy. 1t is not case for empty
declaration The surplus with its dan.
gers fotbids it. The president mus
6Sht for his policy or confess both hi:
impotence and his inslncerity. He mus
battle to carry his measure for reducing
the surplus, or own that be is insensiblt
to the public dangers and to his own Oh
legations He will have practically tn,
whole democratic party with him. Hi
friends have brought the Ohio democra-
G. to a square Endorsement of his policy
II be could secure the endorsement of thu
Pennsylvania democracy it would remove
the last vestige of opposition in the dem
ocratic ranks, and nothing but Mr.. Ran
dalI's force stands in the way. NJ. Ran
dali has his own policy of reducing th'
surplus by abolishing all internal taxa
ton, and he is bound to fight for it a.
hard as the administration for lis owl
measure. The two are in direct conflict
They cannot be harmOnized for they are
based upon totally opposite theories. L
Mr.. Randall is compelled by his antece
dents and his convictions to resist tn,
presidents policy, the president is equal
ly compelled by the logic of his situation
to enforce it, whether against Mr. Randall
or any other opponent.